Bad putting puts Woods in trouble

By DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES

Posted: July 31, 2009 at 5:11 a.m.

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GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Tiger Woods played a lot like the guy who didn't make the cut at the British Open.

Woods shot a 1-under-par 71 Thursday at the Buick Open, his first tournament since disappointing at Turnberry.

He finished the first round tied for 128th on putts inside 10 feet and eight shots back of leader Steve Lowery, who had a 9-under 63.

"Probably one of the worst putting days I've ever had," he said. "It was just terrible."

Two weeks ago in the British Open, Woods was 7 over during a six-hole stretch and ended up missing a cut for the first time in three years.

If Woods fails to break 70 in the second round this morning, he will put himself in danger of missing cuts in consecutive tournaments for the first time as a pro.

Lowery took advantage of perfect conditions - smooth, receptive greens and calm winds - in the morning by tying a course record with a 29 on the front nine.

"It looks like the weather is going to be pretty mild this week, so my prediction to win was 24 under," Lowery said. "Obviously 9 under is a great start, but if you don't follow it up the rest of the week, it ain't going to hang around."

Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 2-under 70 with four birdies and two bogeys. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot a par 72 with four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. Glen Day (Little Rock) shot a 3-over 75 with a birdie, two bogeys and a double bogey. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) shota 4-over 76 with three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.

PGA EUROPEAN

Gal leads British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England - Sandra Gal of Germany shot a 3-under-par 69 to grab the lead after the first round of the Women's British Open.

At 9:15 p.m., at the end of a round that lasted nearly six hours, Gal chipped from the greenside rough over a mound to about a foot from the flag. She escaped with a par and finished a shot ahead of Angela Stanford and Song-Hee Kim, who each posted a 70 earlier.

Stanford birdied the last hole from 30 feet, and Kim made a birdie on No. 18 from 20 feet.

Gal won four tournaments playing for Florida before she graduated this year. She finished in a career-best tie for fifth at the Corning Classic in May. She had five birdies in her latest round, including the 15th and 17th holes which gave her the lead.

Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) shot a 3-over 75 with three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 7-over 79 with two birdies, seven bogeys and a double bogey.

PGA EUROPEAN Goya leads by one

CELADNA, Czech Republic - Tano Goya, who made an eagle, shot a 7-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead over John Bickerton and Steve Webster after the first round of the Moravia Silesia Open.

NATIONWIDE Bolli shoots 66

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Justin Bolli shot 5-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead over Henrik Bjornstad, Dave Schultz, Scott Parel, Phil Tataurangi and Steve Wheatcroft after the first round of the Children's Hospital Invitational.

Drew Laning (Little Rock) shot a par 71 with two birdies and two bogeys. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a 1-over 72 with a birdie and two bogeys. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) shot a 2-over 73 with two birdies and four bogeys. Brenden Pappas (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 4-over 75 with two birdies and six bogeys.

Sports, Pages 19 on 07/31/2009

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